Letter to the Editor: Volunteering Should Be Voluntary

Jun 5, 2018 by Susan Rosenbluth

A recent article in a local Jewish newspaper indicated that, in the author’s opinion, community service is not a choice, but, rather, an obligation. The author argued that even the word “volunteer” is a misnomer because it implies choice. In his view, everyone must serve the community with no option to refuse.

This issue has been the subject of a great deal of debate and research: Should volunteering be a choice or should it be a mandatory requirement?

At the Frisch School in Paramus, which I attend, students are not forced to volunteer, but the concept of chessed, kindness, is part of the school’s culture. In contrast, other yeshiva high school do require students to complete a minimum number of chessed hours, often as a prerequisite to taking final exams. In my experience, this obligation sometimes leads to students resenting, shirking, and even lying about the extent of their chessed activities. These are clearly not the intended results anticipated by the schools, but they are, indeed, some of the real consequences.

I feel lucky to be part of a school community in which chessed is a component of our very essence and is seamlessly incorporated into our curriculum. At Frisch, there are numerous opportunities for students to participate in chessed activities throughout the year. These include trips to the Masbia Soup Kitchen and senior citizens’ homes. Students have cleaned Jewish cemeteries and packed groceries at local food banks.

Frisch students, including me, look forward to these opportunities, and, after participating, we recognize how fortunate we really are. We gain satisfaction from knowing that, without preconditions, requirements, or threats, we have been able to give back to others.

I agree with the general premise that community service is an important, integral part of our lives as Jews. However, I disagree with the notion that it should be regarded as a forced obligation. For maximum results, the inherent value of helping others should be inculcated into people’s thinking, prompting them to want to engage in chessed activities on their own in order to achieve personal satisfaction.

I recently participated in the annual Chai Lifeline Shabbaton in my community in Englewood in which we came together to help families dealing with their children’s life-threatening illnesses. I feel privileged to reside in a community that demonstrates chessed not only on an individual financial level, but in a way that brings a whole community together for a Shabbos of very meaningful and impactful chessed activities.

Nava Markovich

Englewood, NJ